Photos: 10 summertime foods most likely to make you sick

Vancouver Sun07.04.2013

The U.S. Center for Science in the Public Interest has issued a list of the top 10 FDA-regulated foods linked to outbreaks since 1990. This list includes produce, seafood, egg, and dairy products, but not meat. Be aware of the risk, but don't avoid these types of food. "They are everywhere and are part of a healthy diet," says CSPI staff attorney, Sarah Klein.Darren Stone
/ Postmedia News

Leafy greens

Lettuce, escarole, endive, spinach, cabbage, kale, arugula and chard – they’re common and delicious, but they also caused 363 outbreaks involving 13,568 reported cases of illness since 1990. Greens can be contaminated by manure, dirty water rinses, or unwashed hands before you even purchase them. To avoid getting sick, wash produce and prevent cross-contamination by washing hands and using separate cutting boards for greens and raw meat.Gerry Kahrmann, PNG
/ Special To The Sun

Eggs

This breakfast favorite has been linked to 352 outbreaks since 1990, most often due to Salmonella bacteria. The bacteria can lurk inside the egg, so proper cooking is key (which kills the germs), according to cbsnews.com. Avoid eating any products containing raw eggs, including cookie dough.Adrian Lam
/ timescolonist.com (April 2012)

Potatoes

A freshly scrubbed spud that's properly cooked is unlikely to cause illness. But watch out for potato salad. Cross contamination - the transfer of germs from one type of food, usually meat, to another - can be the source of the problem. Potato-related outbreaks of illness have been traced to germs like Listeria (which can live on deli counters ), Shigella, E. coli, and Salmonella.'
/ '

Cheese

While restaurants are a key source of other food-related outbreaks, most people who get sick from cheese do so from products consumed at home. Cheese can be contaminated with bacteria like Salmonella or Listeria, which can cause miscarriages. That's why doctors warn pregnant women to avoid soft cheeses, such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined, and Mexican style cheese, says cbsnews.com.Adrian Lam
/ Times Colonist

Ice cream

I scream, you scream. We all scream from ice cream? Ice cream has been linked to 75 outbreaks caused by bacteria like Salmonella and Staphylococcus since 1990, according to the CSPI. The largest outbreak occurred in 1994, when a batch of pasteurized ice cream premix was transported in a Salmonella-contaminated truck, and then used to make ice cream without re-pasteurizing.Gord Waldner
/ The StarPhoenix

Tomatoes

This summer favorite has been linked to at least 31 outbreaks. Make sure the bacteria doesn’t grow and multiply. To do this: wash hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after preparing fresh produce; wash fruits and vegetables under running water just before eating, cutting, or cooking, even if you plan to peel it before eating.DAX MELMER
/ The Windsor Star

Sprouts

While sprouts are practically the poster child for healthy food, they can also be vulnerable to bacterial contamination. The seeds used to produce the sprouts can be contaminated in the field, and water and warm growing conditions that encourage germination can also boost bacterial growth. The FDA and CDC recommend that the elderly, young children, and those with weakened immune systems avoid eating raw sprouts.Johannes Eisele
/ AFP/Getty Images

Berries

Another common source of food poisoning is berries, including strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. A 1997 outbreak that sickened thousands of children via school lunches was traced to hepatitis A-contaminated frozen strawberries (possibly from a farm worker in Baja California, Mexico). Other cases - linked to imported raspberries from Chile and Guatemala - have been caused by a germ called Cyclospora, which causes severe diarrhea, dehydration, and cramps.Richard Arless, Canwest News Service
/ Canwest News Service

Related

Food poisoning is painful and can even be potentially life-threatening.

The U.S. Center for Science in the Public Interest has issued a list of the top 10 FDA-regulated foods linked to outbreaks since 1990. This list includes produce, seafood, egg, and dairy products, but not meat.

Be aware of the risk, but don't avoid these types of food. "They are everywhere and are part of a healthy diet," says CSPI staff attorney, Sarah Klein.

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